Gondor's Grumblings

Gondor · January 10, 2018, 02:58:39 AM

I have firmed up my ideas for a couple of my Fujimi Phantoms that were going to be real world RN kites. They will still be done as RN machines, however they will now be What-if's and in this case, what-if Eagle had been Phantomised as well as the Ark?
So working on the principle that they would have kept the squadrons that they were operating prior to the Phantom refit, Eagle will have 899 NAS and Ark 892NAS. Now that 892 is not the last fixed wing squadron they would no longer be carrying the Omega symbol on their tails. I have ordered a set of Sea Vixen decals from Hannants which should provide the necessary decals for the older 892 markings as well as 899 flying fists for the other aircraft. I will probably find out that Thorvic has already built F-4K's in these schemes $:-\$
Of the two Airfix kits I have, so far I have only decided that the one opened box will be 767 NAS, the other I have yet to make my mind up on.
The new releases for 2018 by Airfix have left me luke warm but with the possibility of a large hole in the bank balance. Luke warm as most of what I will buy was expected which rather dilutes the expectation some what. Three of the FGR.2 kit's have been pre-ordered last night to go along with the Wellington I pre-ordered last week. The Victor K2 will be passed onto family and friends for Xmas and not much else has taken my fancy though I might get tempted by the 1/48 Hunter F6 which leaves the older Academy one I have in the stash as a basis for a kit bash into an 1121 family member in 1/72. Waste not, want not

Gondor · March 12, 2018, 10:58:41 AM

A while since I wrote anything here but so what?

Really enjoying the current Cold War Group Build which has really got my mojo going again after the new year despite all the mistakes I find I have been making.
Regardless of the mistakes I keep thinking what else can I build? Thinking of building a Boeing C-97 'AWI' That I bought from Thorvic a couple of years ago, but as an American aircraft! I am also thinking of building the Mitsubishi T2 I have as an RAF trainer in the Red/White/Grey scheme which would be almost OOB so a fairly quick build.... Famous last words..

Decided that to help reduce construction time for the F.A.R.T. I will swap rotor heads with an Airfix Mk.8 I have in the stash. I really should try to get this finished for the Scottish Nationals as I am sure the back story would get a few laughs

Gondor

TheChronicOne · March 13, 2018, 05:23:07 AM

I like the sound of the trainer!

Gondor · March 19, 2018, 03:27:42 PM

Not got very far with anything, life keeps getting in the way, that and watching Master Chef

The major parts of the Victor's cockpit have been glued into one fuselage half ready for me to start a spot of decalling for both that and the T2 which has its cockpit parts assembled and glued to one half as well.

I should get the decalling done on Wednesday and in the meantime I am about to paint the Victor's engine intakes and engine fronts ready for instelation tomorrow into the upper wing.

Gondor

Gondor · March 23, 2018, 11:17:01 AM

Rather happy at the moment

I just found a tin of paint that I have been looking for for ages. Sort of one of those "Ill put it in a safe place" kind of events. Not only did I find the paint I was looking for, but some of it's brethren too

Which paint was I so looking forward to finding? It was a tin by Colourcoats M23 otherwise known as RN Light Admiralty Grey which is/was used by a lot of UK aircraft duering the Cold war. I also found in the old egg box where I found the missing Grey; M01 RN Light Weatherwork Grey; M02 RN Dark Deck Grey and M19 Royal Navy Deck Green.

Gondor

NARSES2 · March 24, 2018, 03:04:29 AM

Nice find re the paints

Colourcoats are my favourite enamels and I'm glad they survived the closure of White Ensign.

Mind you I found some old Humbrol Authentics a while ago and they are still perfectly usable. Some interesting colours in the old sets intended for figures.

Gondor · March 24, 2018, 04:17:56 AM

Quote from: NARSES2 on March 24, 2018, 03:04:29 AM

Mind you I found some old Humbrol Authentics a while ago and they are still perfectly usable. Some interesting colours in the old sets intended for figures.

I still have a load of the Authentics too. I also keep old paint catalogues which refer to them to help match colours as required.

Gondor

Rick Lowe · March 24, 2018, 03:11:30 PM

Quote from: Gondor on March 24, 2018, 04:17:56 AM
Quote from: NARSES2 on March 24, 2018, 03:04:29 AM

Mind you I found some old Humbrol Authentics a while ago and they are still perfectly usable. Some interesting colours in the old sets intended for figures.

I still have a load of the Authentics too. I also keep old paint catalogues which refer to them to help match colours as required.

Gondor

Yeah, it doesn't help when you run out of one and find that now they only use numbers...

Gondor · April 11, 2018, 02:24:10 PM

Not much to report model building wise as nothing has really got much further towards being finished.

It's not exactly a loss of mojo as I have plenty of drive to build, just life getting in the way a lot. Masterchief has been spoiling most evenings as far as modelling goes although I am really stunned at the quality of the food that the amateur cooks in this series are producing

What I am building is not what I really should be building and I keep jumping from one build to another and then starting yet another build as the idea behind the new builds lead on from the previously started build

Recent purchases keep tugging at me to build them, an AMK Kfir C2/C7 kit that is inspiring me to make an Israeli C10 using an Scaleworx Resin Models C10 conversion kit, which is for the AMK kit, as a basis for converting a Hasegawa C2 kit. I received a Special Hobbies Gnat F1 today which I am tempted to build as either an RAuxAF aircraft or as a contender for the US Army Forward Air Controller which has also given me the idea of making a Gnat T1 as a Forward Air Controller in USAF service in SEA.

Partly because of all this extraneous building, when I do build, I am unlikely to have anything new for the Scottish Nationals which is making me consider not turning up to that event for the first time in ages. Part of this feeling is probably down to work. I get up at 5:30 each morning and usually get home some eleven and a half hours later so I am feeling quiet tired most evenings.

Gondor

Thorvic · April 12, 2018, 04:19:47 AM

It happens the mojo just seems to work against you at times as its a fickle beast, pushing fresh ideas and builds but turns its nose up when you tell it you really need to finish something

.

I don't think completing new builds is a compulsory option for attending shows !!, especially when its probably the largest local show to you

. It's more about meeting up with the crew, talking through ideas, chatting and joking etc. It's a good place to restock consumables and there's bound to be kits or conversions that are just too tempting to pass up.

I must admit I am in the same boat, distracted by the telly in that window of time post tea and pre-sleep where you may just have enough energy and ability to do a bit of modelling is often when the interesting telly is also on so the bench gets left as most will tend to prefer to kick back and relax after a long day at work.

Gondor · June 02, 2018, 12:56:12 PM

Still not been doing much modelling wise.

I have started a new project though. Its a conversion project. A 1:1 Cat from a 1:1 Kitten

Meet Spot!

The latest member of the family.

IAnd befor anyone asks, I called him spot so I can miss quote McBeth to him in the small hours of the morning....... "Out dam Spot" as he jumps all over the bed!

Gondor

TheChronicOne · June 02, 2018, 01:19:10 PM

Quote from: Gondor on June 02, 2018, 12:56:12 PM
Still not been doing much modelling wise.

I have started a new project though. Its a conversion project. A 1:1 Cat from a 1:1 Kitten

Meet Spot!

The latest member of the family.

IAnd befor anyone asks, I called him spot so I can miss quote McBeth to him in the small hours of the morning....... "Out dam Spot" as he jumps all over the bed!

Gondor

Hi Spot!!!

Good to see the both of yas!!!

NARSES2 · June 04, 2018, 07:26:32 AM

Looks a cute little thing, and that's from a confirmed dog lover

Gondor · September 13, 2018, 08:41:15 AM

Not had much to post here since the start of June.

The cat "Spot" is doing well, he is now allowed out having all his injections etc, which he is really enjoying, being outside that is, not the injections. Here is a fairly recent picture of him.

I was trying him wearing a bow tie as I have friend visiting for dinner tomorrow so I thought he should get a little bit dressed up and as he had lost his luminous yellow collar the previous day it was an ideal time to take his picture. You can see him thinking, "OK, I will wear the bow tie, just gimmee the treats"

Various other things have been happening. Found out that my opticians have basically made a mess of my prescription as they had referred me to the hospital with regards to cataracts which the consultant who I saw yesterday said were not worth doing anything about and that she didn't expect to have to do anything for about ten years

I also had my car in for its MOT, the first since I bought it. Passed without any problems at all, not even one cautionary which is good

Gondor

JayBee · September 13, 2018, 11:08:05 AM

Good news there Alistair, about the eyes and the car.
Spot on the other hand needs a little bit of training. Yes he has the natural colouring, the bow tie looks great, the background features are perfect, but he MUST learn to have that sneering superior look that cats have. You know the "Who are you looking at me like that" look.

Hope to see you at Glasgow.
Jim